BIBLE STUDY The Sunday before Easter is Palm Sunday the day Jesus entered Jerusalem as the King of kings the week of Passover. Many of God s people traveled to Jerusalem for Passover. Jesus and His disciples traveled to Jerusalem as well. Near Bethphage (BETH fayj) and Bethany near the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples ahead into a village. Jesus told them, You will find a young donkey tied there. No one has ever sat on it. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone says to you Why are you doing this? say, The Lord needs it. Jesus would fulfill Zechariah s prophecy: Look, your King is coming to you, gentle, and mounted on a donkey (Zech. 9:9). Jesus made a spectacular entrance into the city. He rode a donkey, and people laid branches and their robes on the ground in front of Him. The people welcoming Jesus into Jerusalem believed He was the promised Messiah, but they expected Him to overthrow Roman oppression and set up an earthly throne. Jesus sent a different message. The next day, Jesus entered the temple and turned over the tables of the money changers and those selling doves. Jesus referred to Isaiah 56:7, declaring that His kingship would not just be over the Jews but over all people. While Jesus was in the temple, He healed the blind and the lame. Jesus actions declared, I am not just your King; I am also your God (Isa. 35:4-6). Finally, the priests and the scribes heard the children in the temple worshiping Jesus as their King. Do You hear what these children are saying? they asked. Jesus replied, quoting Psalm 8:2: Have you never read: You have prepared praise from the mouths of children and nursing infants? Jesus gladly received their praise because He was worthy of their praise. As you prepare for and celebrate Easter, help preschoolers connect the dots between God s promises of a Messiah and Jesus coming. Help them understand why Jesus came: to save the world from sin! SUGGESTED THEME DECORATING IDEAS: Suggested Theme Decorating Ideas: You may choose to decorate for Easter over any existing theme. Play on the existing theme of a family room. You might display palm branches, a vase of lilies, a small cross or crown of thorns, and other decorations at the front of the room. 1 // SESSION 1 // CYCLE 1 3-5 YEAR OLDS
Key Passage song If You Confess KEY PASSAGE SONG Play the Key Passage song as your kids arrive. WORSHIP Worship leaders sing two songs with the children and collect offering. Theme Slide PROPS leader attire Bible Bible Story Video Jesus was Tempted video Bible Story Picture Slide Bible INTRODUCE THE SESSION (3 MINUTES) [Large Group Leader enters triumphantly, carrying a Bible and waving back and forth and bowing to an imaginary crowd of supporters.] Leader Oh, thank you! Thank you! It really is a pleasure to be here. I am glad to see you and your smiling faces. Thank you for being so welcoming. You are too kind. [Relax and address kids.] Whew, it sure feels good to be welcomed. Have your friends ever been so happy to see you when you entered a room? Now imagine a whole city celebrating when you arrived! Today we are going to hear a story from the Bible. [Hold up the Bible.] The Bible is God s Word, and everything in it is true. Our story today really happened long ago. Let s get ready. WATCH THE BIBLE STORY (10 MINUTES) Say Today s Bible story is found in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. All four Gospels! The word gospel means good news. These books in the Bible tell us the good news about when Jesus came to earth to rescue us. Show the video or tell the Bible story using the provided storytelling helps. Use the bolded version of the Bible story for young preschoolers. OPTIONAL BIBLE STORY SCRIPT Jesus Triumphal Entry Matthew 21:1-17; Mark 11:1-11; Luke 19:28-44; John 12:12-19 It was the time of year that the Israelites celebrated Passover. Many Israelites had traveled to Jerusalem to remember what God had done when He rescued His people from slavery in Egypt. Jesus and His friends also traveled to Jerusalem. He sent two of them ahead to a village. Jesus said, Go into the village ahead of you. There you will find a donkey and her colt tied up. Untie them and bring them to Me. If anyone says anything to you, you should say that the Lord needs them. The friends did what Jesus said. They put their robes on the donkey and the colt, and Jesus sat on them. As Jesus came to Jerusalem, a large crowd gathered. The crowd laid their robes on the road. They cut palm branches from trees and laid those on the road, too. The crowds walked ahead of Jesus, and those who followed Him shouted, Hosanna to the Son of David! He who comes in the name of the Lord is the blessed One the King of Israel! Hosanna in the highest heaven! The word hosanna means Save now! 2 // SESSION 1 // CYCLE 1 3-5 YEAR OLDS
Bible Storytelling Tips Fetch the donkeys: Guide small group leaders to invite the last two children who found the donkeys to bring them to large group. Call on two children to bring them to you when the friends bring the donkeys to Jesus. Wave palm branches and coats: Bring palm branches and coats to lay out at the appropriate part of the Bible story. Consider providing one for each preschooler to lay down as you tell the story. Play out the crowd: When you read about palm branches, invite children to raise their hands in the air. Invite preschoolers to shout hosanna too. When you read that Jesus healed the people in the temple, invite children to praise Jesus. Timeline Poster Main Point Slide Big Picture question slides The religious teachers didn t like it. They asked Jesus to tell His friends to be quiet. If they didn t praise Me, Jesus said, the rocks would cry out! When Jesus entered Jerusalem, people asked, Who is this? The crowds replied, This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee! They were only half right. Jesus wasn t just a prophet of God He was God s Son! Jesus went to the temple and drove out the money changers there. While Jesus was at the temple complex, people who could not see and people who could not walk came to Him. Jesus healed them. The priests and the scribes at the temple heard children shouting, Hosanna to the Son of David! The priests and scribes asked Jesus, Do you hear what these children are saying? The children were saying, The king is here! The king is here! Jesus said, Yes. Even the children will praise Me. Then Jesus left and went to spend the night in the town of Bethany. Christ Connection: The people were happy to see Jesus. They knew He was their King. Jesus came riding on a donkey, just as the prophet Zechariah said He would. (Zechariah 9:9) One day, Jesus will come back, riding on a white horse as King over everything. (Revelation 19:11) TALK ABOUT THE BIBLE STORY (1 MINUTE) Say Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, just as the prophet Zechariah said He would. The people were so happy to see Him. People welcomed Jesus as their King. One day, Jesus will come back, riding on a white horse as King over everything. Have the kids answer with either a thumbs up or thumbs down for each question. Point to the Bible story picture as you ask the following review questions: 1. What did Jesus ride when He entered Jerusalem? a horse (thumbs up) or a donkey (thumbs down)? 2. Did the people welcome Jesus as their king? Yes (up) or no (down)? 3. Who was NOT happy to see Jesus? the children (up) or the religious leaders (down)? 4. What did Jesus do for the people at the temple who were blind and couldn t walk? Did he heal them (up) or tell them to go away (down)? BIG PICTURE QUESTION (1 MINUTE) Say The people cried out hosanna, which means save now, when they saw Jesus. Only Jesus, the Son of God, can save us from our sin. Who saves us from our sin? Jesus saves us from our sin. Key passage Key Passage song If You Confess KEY PASSAGE (5 MINUTES) Open your Bible to Romans 10:9. Read the key passage aloud several times. Sing together the key passage song, If You Confess. Say Confess means to admit or say. Our key passage tells us that all we have to do to be saved is admit in our hearts that Jesus is Lord and believe God raised Him from the dead. Jesus did all the work to save us when He died on the cross and rose again. PRAYER (2 MINUTES) Invite kids to pray before dismissing to small groups. DISMISS TO SMALL GROUP 3 // SESSION 1 // CYCLE 1 3-5 YEAR OLDS
Welcome children and set out a few favorite theme-related toys, such as puzzles and blocks. Activity Page pencils or markers ACTIVITY PAGE (10 MINUTES) Lead preschoolers to complete the dot-to-dot to reveal a palm branch. Say Today we celebrate Palm Sunday. Palm Sunday is the Sunday before Easter. We call it Palm Sunday to remember how the people cut palm branches from trees and laid them on the road in front of Jesus as He went into Jerusalem. The people were happy to see Jesus. 10 minutes after the start of service Break into groups of 10 or less children for Small group paper grocery bags, 1 per child blunt-tipped scissors crayons and markers stickers ACTIVITY (10 MINUTES) Make paper bag robes Give each preschooler a paper bag and demonstrate how to cut it to make a robe. Help preschoolers as needed. Provide crayons, markers, and stickers to decorate their robes. Write Jesus saves us from sin on the back of each bag. Invite preschoolers to play out putting their completed robes on the donkey and colt for Jesus to sit on or laying them on the road before Jesus. Say Jesus friends put their robes on the donkey and colt for Jesus to sit on. Jesus came riding on a donkey, just as the prophet Zechariah said He would. The people were so happy to see Jesus, they laid their robes on the road in front of Him. People welcomed Jesus as their King. One day, Jesus will come back, riding on a white horse as King over everything. SNACK TIME Gather preschoolers for snack time. Thank God for the snack. Explain that many years before, the prophet Zechariah said that the King would come into Jerusalem riding on a donkey. When Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, Jesus was showing everyone that He is the King God promised to send. People welcomed Jesus as their King. 4 // SESSION 1 // CYCLE 1 3-5 YEAR OLDS
TRANSITION When a child finishes his snack, guide him to throw away any trash. He may select a book or puzzle to examine, play quietly with toys, or color the Journal coloring page. crayons Journal Page JOURNAL PAGE AND PRAYER Offer the journal page and invite preschoolers to draw a picture of Jesus riding on a white horse. Remind preschoolers that one day, Jesus will come back for His people. He will be riding on a white horse as King over everything. Pray for the children. Say God, thank You for sending Jesus to be our King who saves us from sin. We are looking forward to the day that Jesus comes back riding on a white horse as King over everything. Help us to turn from sin and follow You so we will be ready. Amen. While preschoolers might not be ready to respond to the gospel, use this guide to help little minds begin to grasp big truths about Jesus and the kingdom of God. GOD IS KING. Ask: Who is in charge at home? Who is in charge over the whole world? Explain that God made everything! He is King over everything, and He is in charge. WE SINNED. Ask: Have you ever done something wrong? Tell preschoolers that everyone sins, or disobeys God. Our sin makes God sad. GOD SENT JESUS. Explain that God must punish sin. He loves us and He sent His Son, Jesus, to earth. Jesus came to take away the punishment for sin. JESUS LOVES. Ask: Do you like presents? Explain that Jesus gives us the best present. He never did anything wrong, but He was punished in our place. Jesus wants to take away our sin because He loves us. Pray that God will save your preschoolers. As you faithfully teach the Bible, you are planting gospel seeds in children s hearts. Ask God to grow the preschoolers into children who love and trust in Jesus. THE GOSPEL: GOD S PLAN FOR ME Use Scripture and the guide provided in the classroom to explain to boys and girls how to become a Christian. Assign individuals to meet with kids who have more questions. If this is not possible, encourage boys and girls to ask their parents, leader, or other Christian adults any questions they may have about becoming a Christian Jesus Triumphal Entry Matthew 21:1-17; Mark 11:1-11; Luke 19:28-44; John 12:12-19 It was the time of year that the Israelites celebrated Passover. Many Israelites had traveled to Jerusalem to remember what God had done when He rescued His people from slavery in Egypt. Jesus and His friends also traveled to Jerusalem. He sent two of them ahead to a village. Jesus said, Go into the village ahead of you. There you will find a donkey and her colt tied up. Untie them and bring them to Me. If anyone says anything to you, you should say that the Lord needs them. The friends did what Jesus said. They put their robes on the donkey and the colt, and Jesus sat on them. As Jesus came to Jerusalem, a large crowd gathered. The crowd laid their robes on the road. They cut palm branches from trees and laid those on the road, too. The crowds walked ahead of Jesus, and those who followed Him shouted, Hosanna to the Son of David! He who comes in the name of the Lord is the blessed One the King of Israel! Hosanna in the highest heaven! The word hosanna means Save now! The religious teachers didn t like it. They asked Jesus to tell His friends to be quiet. If they didn t praise Me, Jesus said, the rocks would cry out! When Jesus entered Jerusalem, people asked, Who is this? The crowds replied, This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee! They were only half right. Jesus wasn t just a prophet of God He was God s Son! Jesus went to the temple and drove out the money changers there. While Jesus was at the temple complex, people who could not see and people who could not walk came to Him. Jesus healed them. The priests and the scribes at the temple heard children shouting, Hosanna to the Son of David! The priests and scribes asked Jesus, Do you hear what these children are saying? The children were saying, The king is here! The king is here! Jesus said, Yes. Even the children will praise Me. Then Jesus left and went to spend the night in the town of Bethany. Christ Connection: The people were happy to see Jesus. They knew He was their King. Jesus came riding on a donkey, just as the prophet Zechariah said He would. (Zechariah 9:9) One day, Jesus will come back, riding on a white horse as King over everything. (Revelation 19:11) 5 // SESSION 1 // CYCLE 1 3-5 YEAR OLDS